In addition to Joe Carter’s lament this morning on the subject of women in combat, see (if you can, it’s behind a paywall) this piece by Iraq war veteran Ryan Smith in today’s Wall Street Journal . His description of modern combat’s reality—-that the ancient indignities men must endure to fight the enemy have not changed much at all—-is not for the squeamish. Here’s a bit of the less offensive stuff:
The invasion [of March 2003] was a blitzkrieg. The goal was to move as fast to Baghdad as possible. The column would not stop for a lance corporal, sergeant, lieutenant, or even a company commander to go to the restroom. Sometimes we spent over 48 hours on the move without exiting the [overcrowded amphibious assault] vehicles. We were forced to urinate in empty water bottles inches from our comrades.
Read the whole thing, but not while eating lunch.
You have a decision to make: double or nothing.
For this week only, a generous supporter has offered to fully match all new and increased donations to First Things up to $60,000.
In other words, your gift of $50 unlocks $100 for First Things, your gift of $100 unlocks $200, and so on, up to a total of $120,000. But if you don’t give, nothing.
So what will it be, dear reader: double, or nothing?
Make your year-end gift go twice as far for First Things by giving now.
